Some teams got beat that I didn't think would get beat. Some teams struggled that I didn't expect to struggle. And my Top 4 didn't change...however...my Top 5 did! So, without further ado hear comes another Top 25 effort from...Oh, yea...me!
LSU - They played a solid game against a very good team with a shifty old coach and won it in double digits. No reason to change this pick this week and probably not after they play Tulane this week.
USC - They cruised against Washington State and have Washington coming up. It will probably be a little more respectable but there is a reason USC is my pick for number 2...they are are pretty good football team.
Oklahoma - Like I said...until they play like #### against a team they should dominate or lose I see no reason to move them lower than 3, regardless of what Florida does. Right now they are doing what they should be doing and they are doing it very well. Another road game in Colorado. We'll see what happens on the road.
Florida - I didn't get all jiggly when they beat Tennessee a couple of weeks ago because Tennessee is...well...no where on the map right now. And I didn't get all jiggly the other way when the young D struggled against Mississippi on Saturday. A solid pick at number 4. I don't think they will struggle against Auburn this week either.
West Virginia - powerful offense got a little help from the defense this week as well. With Penn State falling this is the next best team around. They play a team that actually plays a little defense this week in South Florida. Might be interesting.
Rutgers - didn't play and I won't hold that against them. They have Maryland this week.
California - rolled over vaunted Arizona D of Mike Stoops (oops! that was last years D) to keep it going. Oregon this week at Oregon. Strange things happen there...and thats all I'm sayin' about that.
Ohio State - Buckeyes movin' on up. Defense carried them early and now the offense is playing. This will be as high as they go for a couple of weeks unless someone in front of them drops or...they hang 100 on the Golden Gophers...and that's actually possible.
Texas - the Longhorns finally kicked 'em some opponent butt this week...albeit it was Rice...but they did it right. Kansas State is up next...which Texas team shows up?
Boston College - no problem with Army and shouldn't be any problem with Massachusetts.
Wisconsin - I do not like this team any where near as much as I did earlier. A 4 pt win over Iowa with a "inadvertent whistle" to aid the effort. I'm not as much in their corner as I was and am actually looking forward to them against Michigan State.
Oregon - one bad quarter does not a season go. They lost a little focus against Stanford and regrouped and won going away. Sometimes that is what it takes. Dixon and Stewart are worth the price of admission and Nooch is my man.
Clemson - they keep winning, Hawaii played Charleston Southern (?) and they ain't as good as Oregon at this time. See if Georgia Tech finds the right direction or if Clemson is really good.
South Carolina - the Old ball coach and the boys dropped a tough one against LSU. When you play the best you need to be your best...and they were a touch off...but still agood football team. Stick around this week and see what Mississippi State brings to the table.
Virginia Tech - they finally tattooed someone this week...but not enough to leap frog them past South Carolina. North Carolina this week.
Penn State - upset by Michigan...or was it. The Wolverines have the Nittany Lions number so to speak. Is Michigan that much improved in 2 weeks or was my faith in Penn State wrong? I'm guessing Illinois won't like Penn State this week..
Hawaii - I want to feel sympathetic to their struggle to strengthen their schedule...and they do hammer everyone they play...well, almost...but their 2nd string QB threw for a ton of yards and scores against Charleston Southern (?). Who, what and where? Colt Brennan didn't need to take warm-ups even for this. Idaho this week...you know...the one USC "struggled" with in their opener this year.
Kentucky - Two big wins in a row and something like 9 of their last 10. This team is hot and Woodson is still the real deal. But ain't nothin' hotter than their number one fan...bluegrassLady. Florida Atlantic on the spit for this week.
Georgia - played well on the road...but they always do...and slowed the Saban bandwagon just a bit. They get the same Mississippi team that lost to Florida by 6 this week. Could be good.
Missouri - They still put up a ton of points and give up a bit as well. They haven't needed much D until now. The Cornhuskers show up for what may be a great Big 12 North game.
Alabama - Crimson Tide seeing red after falling to Georgia. Someone please tell me I mis-heard Saban say he didn't have them ready to play. They have Florida State this week. Maybe they shouldn't wait on 4th quarter heroics and try playing all 4 of 'em.
USF - they play defense...yes, they play defense! And they'll have to with West Virginia next up on the schedule.
Michigan State - OK...they aren't supposed to be where they are. New coach...hot QB prospect bolting for southern climate location...but they are. My sister is an MSU alumni and it is fun watching her scream and rave about the Spartans. Let's see how they stack up against Wisconsin this week.
Arizona State - I'm all for giving an old coach props. Erickson does this wherever he goes.
Nebraska - sfter losing to USC a couple of weeks ago the next game needs to be a statement game. Ball State wasn't unless the statement was " We lost to USC so now we're done" or "Callahan ain't ever going to get that quality win...and he may not get past Ball State." The Cornhuskers need to get it figured out like right now or the Big 12 North will be gone for them...this weekend against Missouri.
There's the snap...the hold...and the kick...and just like that you send Texas A & M, Georgia Tech and Louisville down the road. A & M melting down and turning the ball over to a very decent Miami team on Thursday night didn't help them at all. And I am convinced that if you pressure Stephen McGee he becomes more and more one dimensional. But when you turn the ball over like they did you get spanked...and they did. I figured Miami was good for this one only because they were at home. I certainly didn't figure 17 points better. Even if A & M were at home for this one with the "12th man"...they/he would have fumbled too.
Georgia Tech had all those returning starters on both sides of the ball and played really good football...for a while. And then...Zap...Bam...Bloowie...it's all going up in smoke. Let's see how they fare against Clemson.
Louisville...Louisville...Louisville! What can you say about Louisville? Their QB can throw for 9 miles in a game and 17 scores...and the defense will give up 18. Classic example of not always being able to outscore your opponent to win so you don't need D. Maybe the Cardinal's defensive coordinator should take a page out of the Texas Tech defensive coordinator's book...and resign. Wait...maybe not...they could always schedule the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Hey, what can you say about a team that can block a field goal attempt, recover the ball and sprint for a touchdown...even the last possible tackler slowed down the pursuit...except you fumble the ball on the 15 yard line and the kicker (who has slowed down) recovers the ball. And the fumble wasn't caused by the other team...you did it transferring the ball from your good arm to your other arm...never really knowing why!!! Tim Brewster is the second coming of Jim Whacker. Way too nice a guy!
Question of the week.
I am an NFL head coach who doesn't play the most potent offensive weapon I have in the final 2 minutes o####ame my team is losing because he has some problems with blocking assignments. Of course, were I to put him in the game to block I'd need my head examined anyway. I should be getting him the ball. Who am I?
Very nice! I agree with all of the analysis here. I can't even argue with you dammit. Yeah, I like my Trojans as number 1, but LSU has just a valid of a reason. I am witing to see how they play a non conference game on the road, and Tulane doesn't count I guess.
I don't know, I just can't see why everyone keeps Penn State in the polls.
Their wins are over Notre Dame, Buffalo and Florida Internationsl. On Rivals.com the winless Irish are #76 (that's generous) the other teams are beyond #100. Then they lose to a team that got crunched by Oregon 39-7 and hadn't displayed a lick of defense in their opening two games. Everyone stops Notre Dame, even Michigan State.
Big game for Oregon this week. Cal is looking very dangerous of late. Tons of team speed. Though, the Ducks have a few guys with wheels as well. I suppose it is fitting that they'll be playing the game in the track capital of the US!
Lisa - thank you! I try to keep it kind of real. I don't see LSU getting challenged much this weekend. Actually I don't think OU or USC should have problems this weekend, either. I don't like Auburn and don't think they are as good as all that so Florida should be alright as well. Then again it is one of those conference tilts so...!
Norcalfella - They obliterate everyone and figured much the same was going to happen this weekend. Offense left them in the lurch against Michigan. I may have had them a bit high which is why I asked the question in my pick. Maybe I liked them too much. There is a local high school team here that could probably beat ND 50% of the time they played them so I'm clearly not using them to determine where I think Penn State should be. Too bad Weis doesn't have Minnesota on their schedule this year. That would be interesting either way.
54 - that one point says it all! If that is what you are referring to.
Nooch - The Ducks have a legit shot at this playing at home with Dixon and Stewart playing extremely well. However, they can't go to sleep for any period of time or the California speed will kill you. But...I'm with you. Go Sooners and Go Ducks! Thanks for the comments. You know they are always appreciated here.
Last edited by gcoach on September 24th at 6:53 PM.
Coach, good write up. I particularly agree with your assessment of A&M and McGee. Miami had some major speed to keep McGee contained from scrambling outside, and the Miami front-4 annihilated the aggie O line all night. I hope OU and UT are taking notes on how to use their speed against A&M.
On a more bizarre note, where was Javorski Lane? Was he too slow to compete against Miami's speed? He couldn't have done any worse than Goodson was doing against the speed. At least Lane may have tired down that front-4 and LB squad.
Coach Fran is out after this year, win or lose against UT. That program needs a new direction and attitude. Too much wasted talent has moved through College Station to no avail. I still dream of how great Martellus Bennett could have been in UT's scheme. Though UT now has a great TE in Jermichael Finley.
Last edited by Cygnus on September 25th at 9:36 AM.
Cygnus - Lane didn't appear to be overly thrilled with his les than limited role, either. They got too concerned with Miami's speed and didn't use Lane to do a little pounding like you said. And he's known to break a few off after pounding a little. I didn't get the whole plan. Almost seemed like it was McGee right, McGee left and McGee down the middle for a while. Is that him not responding well or is that by design? Whatever it was it became very one dimensional. Same thing I've seen time and again. Thanks for the visit.
Last edited by gcoach on September 25th at 1:38 PM.
hey darlin...thank you very much ;) lol Other UK fans just might disagree that I am the #1 fan after this last He Said She Said!! Come look but remember it was done as a gimmick....just for fun. Didn't mean a damn word...lol
BTW, I would have put LSU at #1. They could play agaisnt some pro teams!!! Their D scares me!!
I am an educator and a coach. I was a goaltender in hockey until my playing days finished but now coach hockey and soccer. Once a goaltender always a goaltender. I am an Oklahoma Sooners fan, hold most professional athletes in low regard and have no time for prima donna athletes who think they are better than others who were not fortunate enough to get where these guys, or girls, are. I don't think celebrity puts anyone higher than anyone else in any capacity which, I think, is contrary to our society perception.
